quote:For the anti-choice, I believe the heart of the abortion controversy is not about the fate of unborn babies. Itís about the value of women in society. In North America, for example, many anti-abortion leaders oppose ideas and programs that could help women achieve equality and freedom, and protect the health and well-being of families. For instance, they oppose affirmative action programs that help women gain equity in the job market. They force poor women to have babies and then cut off their welfare. They lobby against health and nutrition programs for children. They condone the bombing of clinics providing reproductive services, and the killing of doctors and staff. These uncivilized actions reveal the true nature of anti-choice goals. They want a return to the days when women had few choices in life. They donít like women having too much freedom, especially in controlling their reproductive lives. Theyíre convinced that women canít be trusted to make their own decisions. And they certainly donít like women having sex for fun without paying for it.

--------------------Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, ScarleteenAbout Me ē Get our book!Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret MeadPosts: 68290 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted 04-20-201312:36 PM
Very true indeed... even on the rare occasions I meet people who are vocally anti-choice, they can just be followers of a certain teaching who don't question it but unfortunately will still stand behind their idea of when life starts and that the law should outlaw abortion accordingly.

When I push them they can say something like "I don't really know the answers to your questions but I know someone at my church who could explain it for you". There's a certain reliance on conforming to some social norm that really reflects their yearning for the safety of their perceived traditional structure for society. The freedom of women is a threat to that. I don't think they put all these feelings together but that hostility is moralised ALL the time as strict belief rather than the emotional response I think it is.

There are probably people who are far more calculating, but I can see this need for women to be in a certain position socially even in many of the most naive anti-choicers.

quote:For the anti-choice, I believe the heart of the abortion controversy is not about the fate of unborn babies. Itís about the value of women in society. In North America, for example, many anti-abortion leaders oppose ideas and programs that could help women achieve equality and freedom, and protect the health and well-being of families. For instance, they oppose affirmative action programs that help women gain equity in the job market. They force poor women to have babies and then cut off their welfare. They lobby against health and nutrition programs for children. They condone the bombing of clinics providing reproductive services, and the killing of doctors and staff. These uncivilized actions reveal the true nature of anti-choice goals. They want a return to the days when women had few choices in life. They donít like women having too much freedom, especially in controlling their reproductive lives. Theyíre convinced that women canít be trusted to make their own decisions. And they certainly donít like women having sex for fun without paying for it.

Awesome quote!!! This is something I feel very strongly about. Okay, I understand that many individuals are uncomfortable with abortion, and folks who are against it can be in favour of things that actually would reduce the abortion rate. But I think that the "pro-life" movement, as a movement in general, is anti-woman, and anti-sex... "punishing" women. It makes a lot more sense to me to look at it from that angle, because if it's just about reducing abortion, then why be against contraception ("contraceptive mentality," etc...), sex education, etc... things that are promoted in countries that actually have lower abortion rates.

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